The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-07-14

try ayerse to continuance of the
present policy Of our government in
the matter Of immigration. We
venture the assertion that if an ac-
CITRATE poll could now be taken of all
the native-born inhabitants of this
country on the question of immi-
grafton, the vote would be almost
unanimously in favor of either rig
idly restrictive laws or Of absolute
prohibition And we doubt not
that q great number, if not g ma
jority, of our intelligent, prosper
Gus and loyal foreign-born citizens
would be found on the same side.
The feeling is general among all
who are truly concerned in the
welfare and prosperity of this coun-
try that the time has come for i'm
portaut notifications of our immi-
grafton laws. Self-preseryation
demands that something should be
done 30 save us from beng overrun
by the pauper and criminal classes
Of Europe. The country should at
least have little respite, time
enough to do something towards
Americanizing and disseminating the
vast foreign element now included
in its population. We have far
more than enough OF this element
now. The county is suffering
through all its metes and bounds
from evils introduced and perpetaa-
ted by the hordes of ignorant, bru-
tai and vicious men who have come
from other lands to throw them
selves upon our charities and hospi-
talites. We want American insti-
tutions to have . chance; we want
America, in short, to be America,
and not Ireland, or Italy, or Ger
many.
Recent events and movements
among us have emphasized the ne
cessity of prompt action in this
matter Of immigration. Only q
few days ago it came out that a yes
sci had arrived at Philadelphia
with q cargo Of pauper emigrants
shipped from Ireland 10 this com
try By the English government
They were not allowed to land AT
first, bat were finally allowed to dc
so by the intercession Of friends
The English government may have
good reasons Tor thinking that this
country is the proper place for Irish
paupers, but the majority Of Ameri
cans viii firmly resent any furtbel
importations of this kind. A stl
holder and more impudent attempt
to impose upon our hospitality anC
good nature Is reported from Nen
Caledonia, the French penal colony
in the South Pacific ocean. III,
Island government no longer de-
string 10 add to its convict popula-
ti0n, has deliberately resolved tl
ship the surplus to California, anC
has actually voted large sum ioi
the purpose. 1t is also understood
that France is III favor Of the pro
iect, and will ala in its execution
This means, very plainly, that tht
French government and the lOca
authorities of New Caledonia iuten(
to make the island SIMPLY way
station for the transportation o
convicts to America. Other coun
tries have been sending us their re-
fuse population for many years, bu
never before has any country com,
ont so boldly in an attempt to maxi
great penal colony Of America
It's believed that large numbers @
French convicts have already com
into the country by way of the Pa
ciGc seaport, and IL is certain tha
more are on the way. These fact
arc given on the authority of til
United States representative il
New Caledonia.
This open AMI direct importation
Of ayowed paupers and criminal
can probably be checked under GU
present laws, but something more ]
needed to keep out the thousand
coming here every year who are re
ally no better than actual pauper
and conyiCts. The time has passe
for sentiment to control in this mat
Ter The conditions of the case ar
very different from what they wer
in the earlier years of our natIona
life. Then immigrants were needle
10 settle NJ our vast spaces Of hab
liable but uninhabited territory
and Join with US in establishing
free and Independent nation. Th
great majority of those who cam
here in the Grst half of the centur
were well fitted TO become AmeTi
can cit zens. They were as a rul
honest, industrious and frugal, an
they came with q real desire (
found homes Of their own and be
come one with US. There were few
er inducements then than now 10
the idle and vicious to transpor
themselves to our shores. Life i
this country was full of promis
taen to the frugal and industrious
but not so attractive to vagrant
and criminals. 1t means too niue
hard work and self-denial. In re
cent years the character of our ian
migration has undergone a grea
change The statistics of immigrs
ton for the port of New York las
year showed that over two-third
of those who came in that time SET
tied down in the cities of the Al
lantic seaboard and chiefly in tn
metropolis itself Without any ez
act knowledge as TO the genere
character and purposes of this elias
that remained in the east it may b
safely assumed that as a whole th
country would have been far bette
or without them. If we need an
o. tLase new corners anywhere it
t. settle up the agricultural land
If tie far west, and not TO add {
tile already crowded tenemer
house populations of our easter
cities. But we shall lose nothing !
western immigration shall cease 70
a while. The movement in that Il
Tcction among our own people ri
be sufficient until the balance {
population has become n little NOR
evenly adjusted. The present sea
son is Witnessing an unprecedente
flow Of the guilt stream of human
ty.' Immigrants are coming in :
$he rate of two and three thousan